Band

Level 7

Job Description Summary

The Global Head of R&D Strategic Insights will be responsible for driving competitive and strategic insights strategy and delivery within Biomedical Research and Development.

The role will lead a team of R&D Strategic Insights Leads dedicated to TAs and R&D platforms, delivering external insights to inform key R&D decisions within project, platforms, and strategic initiatives. The role will set the vision for the team’s evolution toward a more strategic and decision-informing approach, champion best practices in insights delivery, and ensure that the team is deeply integrated into R&D decision-making processes.

The leader will serve as the main point of contact for Competitive Intelligence, Insights and Analytics and a trusted advisor to R&D decision-makers. They will surface insights needs from across BR and Development, identifying, triaging and shaping insights delivery based on enterprise needs.

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Location: Cambridge

Job Description

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Leadership of R&D Strategic Insights Team: Set a clear vision for the R&D Insights team’s role in the organization, driving the team’s evolution, upskilling, and focus to meet the R&D organization’s needs and ensuring the team delivers impactful implications to inform decisions
- Lead, mentor, and develop a global team of competitive insights professionals, providing regular coaching and creating opportunities for skill-building
- Continuously enhance the team’s capabilities and mindset by evaluating & onboarding new methodologies (e.g., primary research), data sources, automation, and AI tools
- Foster a culture of curiosity, scientific rigor, and proactive thinking in the team
- Plan, allocate, and manage budget by anticipating expenditures, accurately forecasting resource needs/costs to deliver insights with fiscal responsibility.

Deliver Impactful Competitive and Business Insights to support informed decision-making at all levels of R&D. Tailor delivery of insights and implications to meet needs of senior leadership (e.g., BR President, Head of Development, DA/DU heads) as well as of individual project teams. Work with Insights Leads to deliver rigorous and consistent insights across deliverables.
- Insights Delivery for Projects & Pipeline: Ensure that all key R&D projects receive high-quality competitive insights in preparation for critical milestones.
- Formulate and articulate an independent R&D perspective on projects’ competitive positioning, integrating a scientific lens on the competitive landscape and delivering competitive business insights to scientific teams.
- Oversee preparation of competitive insight summaries for project tollgates and in-depth competitor trial comparisons to inform clinical design choices.
- Coordinate rapid response to key catalysts (e.g. competitor data releases or regulatory decisions) by providing rapid insights on the impact to our business. Coordinate team identification and planning for foreseeable events and response for unexpected events that can have a significant impact on key projects and platforms
- Platform and Function Insights: Assign dedicated team members to support drug discovery platforms and functional areas (e.g. novel modalities, operational R&D functions). Provide regular benchmarking and case studies to ensure platform and functional leaders have external insights to guide their decisions
- Strategic Initiatives Support: Embed the R&D Insights function into major R&D strategic initiatives and cross-functional projects to deliver benchmarking and insights

Collaboration and Stakeholder Engagement: Serve as the primary liaison between the R&D Insights team, S&G, and R&D / portfolio leaders. Work closely with the R&D Insights Leads to establish close connections throughout R&D TAs, functions and project teams to understand their needs and ensure insights are relevant and timely.
- Prioritize incoming requests and intelligence needs across R&D to focus the team on high-impact areas
- Provide requirements and feedback to S&G intelligence gathering team on data requirements and feedback on the quality and breath of centralized intelligence, representing R&D needs in terms of scope and responsiveness of intelligence gathering support
- Anticipate insights needs for key upcoming decisions and hot-button issues where external insights could help inform R&D perspectives

Essential Requirements:

Doctoral degree (Ph.D. or M.D.) in life sciences (Biology, Chemistry, or related fields) or MBA
10+ years of industry experience, with >5 years in roles related to competitive intelligence, R&D strategy, or portfolio analysis
This is a senior, instrumental role within Biomedical Research and Development. The role requires:
- A combination of scientific acumen, strategic thinking, and leadership skills.
- Experience in Research & Development as well as in commercial functions
- Ability to influence C-suite leadership as well as mid-career associates.
- Demonstrated success in a “matrix” type role
- Comfort managing direct and indirect reports in multiple geographies.
- Strong strategic vision, superior leadership, excellent communication, consensus building, well-developed influencing and negotiation skills
- Excellent interpersonal and leadership skills
- Demonstrated ability to work globally and effectuate change within the company
- Exceptional strategic thinking and analytical skills. Able to synthesize large amounts of information – scientific data, market trends, competitor moves – into clear, actionable insights.
- Ability to formulate and defend independent perspectives on project and platform strategies

The salary for this position is expected to range between year $225,400 and $418,600

The final salary offered is determined based on factors like, but not limited to, relevant skills and experience, and upon joining Novartis will be reviewed periodically. Novartis may change the published salary range based on company and market factors.

Your compensation will include a performance-based cash incentive and, depending on the level of the role, eligibility to be considered for annual equity awards.

US-based eligible employees will receive a comprehensive benefits package that includes health, life and disability benefits, a 401(k) with company contribution and match, and a variety of other benefits. In addition, employees are eligible for a generous time off package including vacation, personal days, holidays and other leaves.

To learn more about the culture, rewards and benefits we offer our people click here.

EEO Statement:

The Novartis Group of Companies are Equal Opportunity Employers. We do not discriminate in recruitment, hiring, training, promotion or other employment practices for reasons of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or veteran status, disability, or any other legally protected status. We strive to create an inclusive workplace that cultivates bold innovation through collaboration and empowers our people to unleash their full potential.

Accessibility and reasonable accommodations

The Novartis Group of Companies are committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities. If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process, or in order to perform the essential functions of a position, please send an e-mail to tas.nacomms@novartis.com call +1 (877)395-2339 and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information. Please include the job requisition number in your message.

https://www.novartis.com/careers/careers-research/notice-all-applicants-us-job-openings

Salary Range

$225,400.00 - $418,600.00

Skills Desired

Agile (Programming Methodology), Building Construction, Business Development, Business Strategy, Collaboration, Curiosity, Data Analytics, Decision Making Skills, Finance, Go-To-Market Strategy, Influencing Skills, Leadership, Operations, Oscilloscope, Pipeline (Software), Prioritization, Strategic Partnerships, Strategic Planning

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